Iwobi Fires Zambia Warning With Arsenal Goal Vs Brighton

Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi underlined his recovery from a muscle strain as he scored his first English Premier League goal for Arsenal this season in a 2-0 victory over Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday.

The Nigerian international, who was a major doubt for the Gunners clash, finished off a backheeled assist from Alexis Sanchez in the 56th minute after Nacho Monreal had shot Arsenal into the lead in the 16th minute.

The ensures that Arsenal are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions, including wins in the last four.

This win over newly-promoted Brighton gave Arsene Wenger victory over the 45th different team in the Premier League, overtaking the mark he had shared with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Brighton started well with neat passing but Alexandre Lacazette hit the post in the second minute and Sanchez could not tap in the rebound.

Brighton’s Solly March also hit the post in the first-half after a short free kick.

Arsenal then took the lead after 16 minutes after a goalmouth scramble. Granit Xhaka’s free-kick was nodded back by Lacazette and although Shane Duffy cleared Shkodran Mustafi’s shot off the line, Monreal slotted home the rebound for only his second Premier League goal since 2013.

Brighton goalkeeper Matt Ryan made a fine save with his foot from Aaron Ramsey and Lewis Dunk and March cleared off the line before Iwobi scored the second after 56 minutes after a touch of Sanchez magic opened up the Brighton defence.

Iwobi had been a doubt for the World Cup qualifier against Zambia billed for Saturday, but he now looks ready to return after missing the fixtures against Cameroon in early September through injury.

I wil prefer rohr starting with the team he fielded against cameroon. Iwobi doesnt seem convincing when playing im african. I think he is yet to get accustomed to the physicality of african football. I predict rohr’s team will be:

Supported.
Stick with the winning team for now. Although I think John Ogu may be more effective than Onazi, for the time being its better to go with the exact starting eleven that did it for us against Cameroon. After qualification is assured, we can try a midfield combination of Ogu and Ndidi ( which I think will be more productive than Onazi/Ndidi combination).
Also I think Iwobi should be playing a central midfield role for Nigeria (as cover for Mikel). I believe he will be more useful for Super Eagles as a playmaker. His uncle Jay-Jay Okocha used to play as a right winger at Eintracht Frankfurt just like Iwobi is doing now for Arsenal. It’s Westerhof that tried him out as a central playmaker for Nigeria, and he blossomed. Subsequent clubs started utilising him in that role.

A mikel and ogu combination in the middle will be a slow one. Both players are not mobile so complementing any of them with a mobile and aggresive onazi will be perfect. After the worldcup qualifiers i urge rohr to experiment a midfield combination of iwobi,mikel and ndidi/onazi whereas mikel will be played deeper while any of ndidi or onazi will be deployed as a box to box midfielder and iwobi as a supporting striker/ a #10. I think mikel’s best performance in an eagles shirt is when he is deployed as a deep lying playmaker. Iwobi,noah sarenren bazee(when he is fit) and iheanacho should be tried out as the team’s number 10.

My biggest worry now is getting a worthy succesor for mikel john obi before his retirement. Rohr should start scouting youngstars who can fit the bill. I will recommend the likes of aston villa’s english born joshua onomah,lillestroms ifeanyi mathew who have been performing incredibly well in the norwagian league,liverpool’s ovie ejaria and ex u17 captain kelechi nwakali. I believe one of this kids if well groomed and integrated into the team slowly will be a heir to mikel.

I think between Kelechi Nwakali, Iwobi and Iheanacho, we already have worthy successors to Mikel. Super Eagles coaches should not continue the mistake of playing Iheanacho as a striker or Iwobi on the flanks, even if their clubs continue doing that. Iwobi will excel in the middle of the pack once he is given that responsibility. Also, Iheanacho was originally a playmaker. Goal scoring is only an additional gift that the young man has, but his club coaches prefer exploiting that and in the process limit him from expressing his full potential as playmaker.
As for Kelechi Nwakali, that one is a natural. The earlier we start using him in Super Eagles, the better for us.

Has anyone noticed the ruggedness and incisiveness of Simon Moses when playing against African oppositions? He was our only attacking threat against South Africa and made our wing play so effective against Cameroon. With Victor tormenting from the right and Simon from the left, I don’t see Zambia surviving the first 30 mins. Iwobi can come on later in the game. But to bench S. Moses, no. Nigera 4 Zambia 0.

Yes sir, Zambia in trouble. This is a warning for the mouthed Zambia coach who’s mouth is oilly and creamy. With this goal for Arsenal I declare another goal 4 Alex Iwobi against Zambia (second half goal).

the national team has bin having problem with a play maker.we nid some like alex in starting xi. i want a lineup of dis form, 4rm mfd to atk : ndidi(dmfd), mikel(cmf) ogu(cmfd), iwobi (atkm moses (lwd), simon/etebo (lwd). then chipolopolo wil become thrash

Zambia is coming to Nigeria with at least 3 Usain Bolts. Patson Daka leads in that regard. I ‘ll advise Gernot Rohr to give the wing backs serious drills to counter the pace of those Zambian wingers. My major concern now Elderson Echiejile. The guy is so slow these days. How he’s going to cope with blistering pace of that Spartak Moscow man, Fashion Sinkala is still a mystery to me. I wouldn’t mind if Ola Aina is tested in that position just in case the option of Elderson would not work.

Fear not, they will only make those runs if they have the ball. With our possession play I doubt they will have such chances. We need the skill of iwobib and some ruggedity of etebo in this team. My only worry is that the team should not run off steam as those Zambians have a way of not burning out and pressing when the game is about coming to an end. Scores Ng 3 Za 0.

Fear not, they will only make those runs if they have the ball. With our possession play I doubt they will have such chances. We need the skill of iwobib and some ruggedity of etebo in this team. My only worry is that the team should not run off steam as those Zambians have a way of not burning out and pressing when the game is about coming to an end. Scores Ng 3 Za 0.

I Can Assured U That The Match Is Like Final.Remember Zambian Have Never Be To Wordcup In The History Of African Football Since They Have Secure 7point Behind Nigeria Wit 10point.They Wil Do Everything Possible To Test Wordcup For The First Time,one Thing Is Sure…The Best Team Wil Win And Qualify For Word Cup.God Bless Nigerian God Bless Africans…UP MFM football club.